Dallas Design District Dine-Around

If you find yourself in the Dallas Design District for a marathon shopping spree or a daylong consultation with a client, you need to keep your energy up. Stopping for appropriately timed meal breaks is the best way to keep your blood sugar from dropping too low, which could result in a hangry situation. To save your hungry self from saying or doing something you'll regret, we've put together a guide for when to eat and where to do it in the Design District.

Breakfast

Need some ol' fashioned scratch-made comfort food to make it a good morning? Mama's Daughters' Diner, on Irving Boulevard, has everything you need to start your day off right. From omelets to biscuits and gravy to pancakes to waffles, there's no way you're leaving hungry. Or you can always opt for a slice of homemade pie for breakfast, because — why not?

Lunch 

If you have a craving only a cleverly named burger can satisfy, then Rodeo Goat off Market Center Boulevard should be your next stop. Take a bite out of The Mike Rawlings (Irish whiskey cheddar, candied bacon, blackberry compote, whole-grain mustard) or take your chance with the Hot Bastard (habanero cheddar, marinated peppers, LTO, fresno aioli). Choose from beef, chicken, turkey, veggie or quinoa patties, and wash it all down with a salted caramel and pretzel shake.

Maybe nachos, tortilla soup and enchiladas are more your style. If so, head down Hi Line Drive to Primo's Tex Mex Grille where you can fill up on an inexpensive combination lunch plate from 11AM to 2PM. Get $3 margaritas on Tuesdays if you aren't working or driving for a bit and need a little midday tequila fix.

Mid-afternoon Pick-me-up

If you’re going to fill up on caffeine anyway, why not do a good deed while you're at it? Ascension Coffee, off Oak Lawn Avenue, donates a portion of every sale to its partnerships and farmer training in coffee-producing countries recovering from crisis. There's been scientific evidence that doing good deeds may lengthen your life. How's that for a great start to your afternoon? Oh, and, of course, Ascension pours a great cup of Joe.

Happy Hour

When it comes time to wind down, support your local economy at Community Beer Company, a Dallas-based brewery offering premium craft beer. The folks there regularly host events, from trivia nights to special edition beer tapping, so if you need a fun place to meet coworkers or a client, this spot right off Inspiration Drive is a great option. 

The clever brewers at Texas Ale Project have captured the essence of summer with their cleverly named amber ale: Fire Ant Funeral. Its tagline, "balanced without the bite," is a perfect play on words for this brew built from seven different malts. Visit the taproom off Riverfront Boulevard to watch the magic happen Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Dinner

For a taste of "the most beautiful Thai in Dallas," pull up a seat at PakPao Thai on Oak Lawn Avenue. Chef Jet Tila's expansive menu includes family recipes and familiar Thai favorites, as well as vegan variations on traditional dishes such as pad Thai and pad kee mow. The cocktail menu offers an inventive mix of tropical flavors, plus four skinny cocktails for those who'd rather spend their calories on Tila's Thai donuts with condensed milk and seasonal preserves.

With a full bar and an expansive beer menu featuring 40 draught beers, two live ales and more than 85 bottles, Meddlesome Moth, off Oak Lawn Avenue, is the place to have a great drink and a fantastic meal. The restaurant offers a menu as unique as the original artwork adorning its space. Other restaurants discourage sharing, but Meddlesome Moth is known for its share plates with options such as guacamole, hummus, sweetbreads and artisan cheeses, as well as heavier selections such as baby-back ribs and oysters on the half shell.

Whether you're working or playing in the Dallas Design District, you have plenty of choices for where to grab a bite. Regardless of whether the Design District is your regular stomping ground or you’re just here for the day, mix and match until you find the perfect eateries for you and your taste buds. Bon appetit!